Sport and Games Atlas

How The Game Is Played
Governing Bodies

International Tennis Federation (ITF)

Also Known As ITF; rebranding to World Tennis planned for June 2026

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The International Tennis Federation was founded 1 March 1913 in Paris by twelve national associations and now has 211 member associations. It dropped Lawn from its name in 1977, assumed organization of the Davis Cup in 1979, and renamed the Federation Cup the Billie Jean King Cup in 2020 to honor the tennis legend. In 2013 it suspended the Tunisian Tennis Federation from the Davis Cup after finding the federation had improperly ordered a player to withdraw rather than face an Israeli opponent, and separately fined the Israel Tennis Association over a rescheduling dispute. In 2022 it cancelled all events in Russia and Belarus and excluded both from team competitions following the invasion of Ukraine.

Facts
Body Type
International federation 1
Founded
1913 1
Founded 1 March 1913 in Paris; American resident of Switzerland Duane Williams is credited as the driving force behind its founding, with twelve national associations attending the inaugural conference.
Headquarters
London, England 1
Founders
Duane Williams, an American resident in Switzerland, is generally recognized as the driving force behind its founding; twelve national associations attended the inaugural conference in Paris, 1 March 1913. 1
Cross-Tradition Connections

Governs

Sources
1. Wikipedia, International Tennis Federation
Wikimedia FoundationHistory section, founding paragraph
Quote, History section, founding paragraph
Duane Williams, an American who lived in Switzerland, is generally recognized as the initiator and driving force behind the foundation of the International Tennis Federation.
View the Source
1. Wikipedia, International Tennis Federation
Wikimedia FoundationGoverns: TennisView the Source
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